Yes, I actually have *some* hair to talk about today!

By the way - yesterday's radiation visit was tolerated by me.  Tears rolled down my cheeks several times.  I just couldn't help it.  The radiology oncologist doctor was unsympathetic and . . . well . . . let's just say I'm VERY GLAD she won't be my doctor after I'm finished with these last 6 (yes, I'm counting!) radiation treatments.  I'll go back to my regular oncologist and her nurse - whom I trust and REALLY like.

Yesterday was a day needing faith to get me through.  I prayed on the xray table and felt nothing.  I asked for God's presence to make me feel more secure, and I felt nothing.  Those are the times when you have to just know that you know He is always present and *does* hear prayers.  There wasn't one "feeling" that connected me to Him, and I felt very alone lying there.  But, I was not.  I know that.  I know that because He promised to never leave us or forsake us . . . AND, He doesn't lie. 

So, "feel it" or not - He was there.

===========================

Now, about my hair!!! 

I attempted to take pictures (always a hit or miss success!!!) of my no longer bald head.  Many would still call me bald; but, I prefer to say I have a "tennis ball" type fuzz or hair growth, all over my head - especially in the back, above my neck. 

I was worried, at first, when my hair began to grow back in a U-shape over my ears and behind, at the base of my neck.  It left the front and top very shiny and bald.  I feared it would grow back in looking like a public restroom's toilet seat - you know? that famous, black U-shape!!!

If I look in the right light, I see hairs standing straight up all over my head.  It may be a quarter of an inch long and that, possibly, could be an exaggeration!!!  But, it's hair.  And, I'm glad!  Much of it is platinum (white white) and you can't see it in these pictures.

                 
Who would have thought a person could rejoice at the "smallest appearance of hair" and find it a lovely gift????!!!!

All the little red dots, or freckles, are a result of the chemo therapy and I doubt they will ever go away.  They are all over my face, too, and possibly the rest of my body.  I don't know because I can't see my back!!!

A small price to pay for killing cancer cells. 

That is how I must look at everything, right now.  I weigh the price (the side effects) of the long term good.  It's a harder stretch for me to imagine the long term good of radiation therapy, but I am submitting myself to the treatments . . . that's as "accepting" as I can be about radiation.

                           
If you look across the top of my head (at the black background over my scalp) you can see the little hairs standing up, just like a newborn baby.

And this is the most hair - the hair at the base of my skull/neck.
   
                                 I can actually grab a hold of and pinch the hair, here.

        
                            HOWEVER . . . Chirper still remains the one with more hair than me!!!! LOL
                                           (Yes!  That is last night's dinner on the tip of his nose!)

        
         BUT, we are neck and neck in the eyelash competition; and, I may have him beat in the eyebrow game!
                             (See all the little dots on my face?  My chest is the same way.)

====================================

Annamarie is still sick in bed.  She missed school yesterday.  So as not to overwhelm her, I gave small assignments yesterday.  That way, she won't have so much work to catch up.  Rissy sounds the same this morning, but her voice and nose problem cleared up yesterday afternoon.  Hers may be more like allergies and Annamarie's is a regular old fashioned cold.

====================================

After yesterday's appointment, Jesse took me to my favorite craft store.  It's less expensive and larger than Michael's.  I went in by myself.  I found a clock for our mantel (I never finished redoing our fireplace area a month or so ago) and I needed to buy some Christmas silk florals for a friend who is a missionary overseas.  I quickly found a clock - cheaper than the rest of them - that was one of a kind.  It was perfect and Jesse commented on it when I placed it above the fireplace.

CAN YOU BELIEVE the Christmas florals were already marked down HALF PRICE???!!!!!!!     It's only September, for crying out loud!  

I bought a few stems on sale and headed back out front, where Jesse and the girls were waiting in the Suburban.  I am still shaking my head over the fact Christmas things are OUT, much less marked down!

====================================

                         
I've lost about 20 pounds, since starting cancer treatment.  I can see it in the little vertical lines in my cheeks and my rings are REALLY loose.  Just where I needed to lose weight - in my fingers!!!! LOL!!!!

=======================

Our weather has been (and will be all week) gorgeous.  Upper 70's and low 80's for highs.  The nights are chilly and it makes a difference in the house when we wake up.  We aren't ready to turn on the heater, just yet, not even for a chilly morning.  They are even saying we could have thunderstorms by Thursday.  Of course, like always, the weatherman say our city is "right on the line" of the approaching weather pattern.  "It *could* happen, and, then again, it *might* not."

With those vague reports, *I* could be a weather reporter, too!!! LOL

========================

It's time for me to get off of here, brush my teeth, and start school.  I'm still not planning ahead.  I simply write down (in my school planner) what we accomplish on a given day.  I'm not in the mood for copying hand out sheets for homework, so the girls only have their school assignments to do and no "after class" work. 

Since everything is done "at home" - I guess "homework" is a wrong use of their *after class* work!!!  LOL

Be Blessed  ~

The past two days, I've straightened my desk and filled out a few forms to be mailed back to the county, the hospital, etc.  I am applying for a county assistance program for the heavier chores at home.  I don't know whether I qualify (and I'm not sure what makes one qualified) but the gal that came to the house for an interview, on Friday, said I obviously was currently "disabled" and needed help.  She said she'd do all she could for me.

The fact she came out so quickly (I had called at the beginning of the week) was a ray of hope for me.  In addition to someone helping clean the major things at my house (tubs, shower stall, mop floors), they also offer medical equipment (walker, etc.) and an additional amount of  prescriptions are covered if your insurance limits them (mine only covers 6 prescriptions a month).  We'll see.  I hope I don't ever need a walker or bars in the bathroom, but it's nice to know receiving them might be possible.  It's also entirely possible my medical insurance would cover those things, anyway.

================

Our new range.  Fancy schmancy, huh???  This is the one that was out on the floor and marked 50% off due to minor scratches or dents somewhere on its body.  I sure don't see anything wrong with it.

Saturday, I baked muffins in the oven using the "convection oven" feature and they turned out beautifully.  They were evenly baked, with no overbaked bottoms or sides!  Other than the gas burners and baking or convection baking (both at 350°), I'm lost.  I have no idea what all the controls, bells, and whistles do!!!!

We haven't had to use the stove much.  Church members have helped (and are going to help) with some meals.  I made Cream of Wheat this morning, the second time I have used the stove (after making muffins the other day), and did just fine!  It's big and very intimidating!

====================

Annamarie is sick - a cold.  Jesse thought it was only allergies, because she sneezes all the time.  It sounded mysteriously different from allergies to me and, sure enough, she is now stopped up with a mild sore throat.  She was served Cream of Wheat in bed this morning!!!

====================

Luci complained about her stomach yesterday.  I sent her to bed in the guest room (she HAD slept in Rissy's bed after Annamarie's diagnosis!!!) and she has had a miracle cure over night!!!!  Maybe she was faking it??  Luci?  No way!!!!

===================

====================

Saturday afternoon, the laundry room floor was filled with water beneath the new washer.  Jesse was kicking himself thinking he hadn't connected things correctly.  He's not a handyman and never had anyone around to teach him how to do things while he was growing up.  After tightening the hoses, the washer continued to leak on Sunday.  He called our heat/air/plumber friend and it ended up that the faucet connectors or handles, at the wall, were old and needed to be replaced.  It wasn't Jesse's fault after all.  We were grateful Steve was available and could come to our rescue!
 

I read the books that came with all of our appliances.  Reading in bed and actually operating them are two different countries and two different languages in my brain!!!  I'm sure it isn't all that complicated and I'll get the hang of it, once I resume the laundry chore, again!

===========================

Rissy woke up today with a frog sound in her throat and a seal bark cough.  I've isolated myself from all three and they aren't allowed to answer the phone or touch things that I might touch.  The people who make those disinfectant wipes are going to have a wealthy year because of my family!  I wash down EVERYTHING in my path!

==========================

Well, pray for me, dear friends.  This is my first day of starting back to receive radiation treatments.  I still have a deep concern and nervous anticipation about undergoing radiation, again.  Actually, I'm still feeling terror, but try to pray and shove it away when it descends upon me.  I had trouble falling asleep last night because thoughts of the pain and my hospital stay kept returning to my mind.

I made a bunch of Jell O and pudding yesterday for myself (and Annamarie) and that's the only tangible thing I know to do to prepare myself.  The only thing remaining is to constantly pray to protect me from the harmful "scatter" radiation rays.

Be Blessed  ~

It's been a tiring week and this is the first time I've been out of bed, except to go to our bathroom and the doctor's office, yesterday.  I'm a true bloggy nut!  I got out of bed just for this . . . to BLOG!!! 

===============

Anyway, yesterday was really rough.  I made the decision (at the request of my doctor) to reconsider stopping the radiation treatments, right now.  She said I had told her in the beginning to remind me, if I ever felt like quitting, that what I REALLY wanted (when I was in a good frame of mind and able to make rational decisions) was an aggressive cancer treatment plan. 

She was right.  That was what the full functioning me had decided, back in April. 

I remember saying those very words to her.

I had to chew through the gravity of my words and what that would mean to me, physically, to finish all 15 treatments.  (big sigh) 

She was upfront and totally honest with me.  She believes the cancer that is left in my bone will become resistent, if I don't take the rest of the radiation treatments NOW.  In fact, she doubted waiting until January would be effective and she also doubted she would even recommend treatments at that time.

She told me I *probably* will get just as sick again and *quite probably* could be worse than I was last week.  I *could* (very possibly) end up in the hospital for weeks; but, its *highly unlikely* I will end up with a feeding tube.    Is that the "good news"??????

===============

We talked.  I cried.  I agreed to undergo the last seven radiation treatments, starting this next Monday.  I'll have one each day next week (Mon. - Fri.)  and the last two on the following Mon. and Tues.  I cried some more.  

I told her I didn't appreciate the radiology oncologist not preparing me for such a painful reaction to my treatments.  Telling me I "probably would feel a slight pressure" was grossly wrong, and I would have much rather had a truthful story about what *could* happen.  I had been totally unprepared for ANY pain and resented it.    Again, I cried some more.

My oncologist is awesome - truly, she is!  She made sure *I* was sure about continuing forward.  She waited in the exam room until she knew I wasn't going to fall apart in a dissolving mass of tears.  She hugged me and left the room.   

She sent me to the chemo room for my bone strengthening (monthly) IV medicine and a bag of saline to rehydrate me.  She told me I could come everyday AND Saturday for a bag of saline.  She trusted my judgment to KNOW when I needed more fluids.

========================

I went to the chemo room and asked for a bedroom.  At that moment, I didn't feel conversational and didn't want to make eye contact with anyone.  I held my feelings together until I got into the private room, behind a closed door, and then let loose with sobs.  Sobs from my toes.  I'm VERY scared - I make no bones about that fact.  To make a decision to torture myself, when I already know how bad the pain can be, was an incredibly hard decision to make.  I had to be very brave and do what was right and not what I wanted . . . which is an easy way out.

I sobbed and sobbed, waiting for the wonderful chemo nurse, Pam, to come in and start my IV.  She was behind with her patients and it gave me some private time to cry freely.  She, finally came to my room, took one look at me, closed the door, and began to pray for me out loud.  She spoke one Scripture after another over me for 5 or 10 minutes nonstop.  I cried the whole time. 

She hooked me up to the IV saline and left me alone . . . to cry.

=========================

Soon after she left, the door opened and the radiology oncologist's nurse came in and asked if I was okay.  By then, I was in a fetal position sobbing my heart out and clutching my soggy tissues in my sweaty palms. 

She asked, "Are you okay??"      (Yeah!  She asked!)

"No, I'm not.  I'm not okay at all." 

She became VERY concerned and extremely KIND as she questioned me about what exactly had happened to me and in what time frame.  I feel sure my oncologist called the radiology department after she left the exam room and told them I wasn't a happy camper and was a person who wanted the facts - not sugar coated words.  I told her everything and the gory ER and hospital stay details.

She said she had an idea and said she'd be back. 

She came back about 20 minutes later and said she had done some checking and handed me two prescriptions.  She said what I described was an esophageal spasm (the very thing I told the doctor who was on call the night I was so sick) and that she was giving me something for spasms and chest pain (one RX is $340!!!!!)

I pray the new drugs work and that keeping me hydrated with saline bags 3 days next week (M,W,F) will abate the serious pain I had to endure the last time.

My consolation is that last week, on Wednesday, I was in the E.R. in agonizing pain and by yesterday's Wednesday I was in tolerable pain.  The oncologist explained to me my tissues and esophagus were experiencing "scatter" from the radiation that was being sent into my backbone.  *That* radiation (concentrated in my back) would continue to burn the bone area for months, but the "radiation scatter" would not keep burning the surrounding tissues or organ areas.  It was a short lived reaction.

Some consolation, I supposed. 

=================

My dreadfully HUGE fear has abated.  Actually, the last 30 minutes I was hooked to an IV, yesterday, I read (SLOWLY) through the Bible in Hebrews 10 & 11. 

I thought,  "At least I'm not being sawed in half . . ."  (yeah! I'm still a "Pollyanna")

=================

I'm not able to be on here much.  I'm on bed rest.  My sweet friend Emily came here today to fix meals (and treats) for the next few days.  She asked the church to help 2 or 3 times a week with meals for the next 6 weeks.  There were 4 immediate (and very ready) volunteers.  Such a blessing - God's children!

=================

I'm grateful my good friend Lori K  who posted for me, while I was in the hospital.  She can be trusted and I trust her with my life (even my Xanga password!!!! ). 

IF I become incapcitated again (or hospitalized) - I'm sure she will post an update.  She's such a good friend, sister in Christ, and "therapist" . . . I've definitely talked her ear off this week . . . and she let me do it! 

===============

My Xanga friends, you have been so wonderfully kind and supportive.  The huge amount of prayers sent up on my behalf were mind boggling!  Thank you!  Thank you!

==============

Please continue to remember me in your prayers, as I prepare for (and then endure) these last seven radiation treatments. 

I'm sure my fear is obvious, as you read this, but my hope remains in God and His promises.

Be Blessed  ~

I checked myself out Sunday.  No one thought I was ready to go home (medical staff) but the doctor agreed to my dismissal.  I felt there was nothing more they could do for me that I couldn't do at home.  I weaned myself from the IV morphine and came home to pain tablets.  The only thing they had that I don't have at home is IV saline going and a bed that sits up when a button is pressed.

It feels wonderful to be in my own bedroom and bathroom!

I am very weak and must stay on bed rest.  I feel less pain than when I first went in.  I'm still in pain and can't eat much - but I AM eating and drinking.  No more vomiting  - just the same ol' dry heaves!

I see the doctor tomorrow morning and have decided (after DAYS of very heavy praying) to NOT continue radiation.  I may pick up the rest of the treatments after I've had a chance to heal.  I've had 8 of the 15 recommended treatments and it has severely damaged my insides.  I don't need anymore burning for now!  They said the next 7 treatments *COULD* land me in the hospital for a month and feeding tubes *could* become necessary.  No thanks!

Chest pain was diagnosed as esophogitis (burned esophagus from radiation) and the shoulder pain was possible bursitis.  All lab and scans came back normal - so I don't have a viral or bacterial infection in my shoulder. 

So, will be back soon to update.

Be Blessed  ~

We're headed to the E.R. because no doctor can see me right away and I'm in a tremendous amount of pain.

Please pray for me.  I really hurt.

Be Blessed  ~

I've already taught school, cleaned up around the house, gone to my radiation treatment, saw the doctor's nurse, rode home, started dinner and did a load of laundry!  No wonder I'm a little tired!

I got a few things done around the house this past weekend.  I found someone who wanted our older glasses.  Their removal has left room in my cupboard and someone happy they don't have to buy new water glasses! 
                

Rissy is one of those people who works better with her tongue sticking out!
                    
                                 Her profile looks so much like me when I was her age!
                                 The only difference is that my hair was never as thick!

Last night, I pulled out all of my "extra" homeschool books.  Right now, I am relying on those to supplement their daily schoolbooks.  I'm not up for long discussions and drills.  I'm doing well just to get through teaching school and still come out on the other end breathing!!!  I found a TON of good material to act as "homework" after class.

   See the piles of books I found?  They are actually in "a type" of order there on the table!!!!

It will soon be time to say good bye to many of my appliances.  We bought everything yesterday at Best Buy.  We got good prices with discounts and 36 months with no interest or finance charges!!!  We won't need 36 months, but that certainly will be an easy "minimum payment" if we every have to make one!

Our dishwasher has run forever and ever.  Yesterday, we purchased a new one just like it.  I'm so pleased with its performance and it hasn't died yet!!!!  It doesn't match anything else in the kitchen and it smells funny when it runs.
                                 

Bye bye to the washer & dryer and the range, too!  All of the new appliances will arrive next Sunday.
     

We are buying black with stainless trim.  Or, stainless with black trim!!!!  I didn't want stainless, but it all started with the great deal we found on the range. 

For what we wanted, we figured it would be somewhere around a $1500 purchase - and it would have been.  Except for the fact, there was a stainless and black one with a scratch (or ding) on the side and it was marked down to $800.  How can you turn down a self-cleaning, CONVECTION oven with five burners range for less than $1,000?  We couldn't, so we went with the stainless/black look. 

That meant a stainless dishwasher, too.  Not exactly my favorite, but EVERYTHING was discounted way below the usual price and we bought the best we could afford.  The washer and dryer happen to be stainless, too. 

I'll post pictures once the new stuff arrives and is hooked up.  We'll have to wait for our heat/air/plumber friend to install the gas range.  MEANWHILE . . .

  I'm simmering tonight's chicken in an electric skillet and a big covered skillet on the stove's burner!  I'll definitely be glad again when I can bake in the oven!  This is a lot of mess to clean up!!!

I had a nice surprise, today, while I was teaching school.  There was a knock on my door.  By the time I got to the door, the person was gone.  I saw (through the peephole) a car by our mailbox and assumed it was the mailman (ours don't drive mail trucks, since we are serviced by rural carriers).  When I opened the door, I found a gift sack on my door mat and saw my "secret support pal" driving off.  I waved at her.  I've never met her - only talked on the phone and received sweet gifts at my door or in the mail.  She is such a dear and was there for me at one of the scariest times.  Those few days when I literally was so sick I thought I was dying - the 3 days before my last chemo treatment.
                       
     
                          This is what was in the sack.  A reminder to "Give Thanks" - and I do, daily!
                                          I placed it on the marble chest in the foyer
                                              with my fall leaves and pilgrim bear!

Speaking of the marble chest in the foyer and fall leaves . . .
 
                                 
                              Stormy isn't eating the new floral arrangement of leaves!

Over the weekend, our weather was deliciously cloudy, cooler, and rainy.  It feels more like October, rather than September!  I'm SO VERY ready for fall and all the cooler season will bring!
    
                                                       My kitchen wall calender.

Jesse and Annamarie have gone to Sam's to get *I don't know what* and I'm not sure Jesse knows, either.  I think he has cabin fever!!!  He didn't work today, because of the rain, and it's looking like tomorrow may remain too soggy.

The other two girls have finally finished their school work.  I didn't give them too much, they just drug it out, making it last all day!  I have 8 more radiation treatments and then we won't have to leave in the middle of every day and interrupt what we are doing.  I'll be glad in more ways than that!

      
                                                    Luci.  Thinking AND smiling!

Be Blessed  ~

When it rains in the summer time, it almost always clears up quickly.  The skies usually don't stay gray for days and days.  The clouds bringing the rains this week don't look the same as the clouds we see in spring and summer.  The rains are still coming up from the south - the Gulf - but there are bands of cold air beginning to push down from the north (Canada).

==================

Not only are these weather facts signs of the approaching fall season, there are some very obvious signs, as well.

The bigger pool has been drained of its slippery, slimy, green water.  The drain had caught what looked like a tarantula spider.  On closer inspection, I found it to be a clot of grass and gook!  I'm not sure which is worse - gook or a huge spider in our pool!!!!!

   
The trees are not showing profuse blooms any more.  The amount of flowers are dwindling quickly and one bush has already lost its red foliage.  It's located in the back corner of the yard, so I have to make an effort to see it.  My view from the windows isn't totally barren, not just yet, anyway!

  My rose bushes and the neighbor's crepe myrtle continue to stubbornly bloom, despite the approaching cooler weather.  Aren't they beautiful????

==============================

I've been worried about Stormy, our older cat.  She's not "old" - but "older" than Chirper.  She's had an upset stomach for a quite a while.  We had gotten the vomiting under control.  This week, she began vomiting again.  Then, I caught her doing this.

           
  Doesn't she look like a squirrel sitting on it's back legs? 

             
She's been eating the fall arrangement I just put out on the foyer's marble chest.

The problem?

The arrangement isn't made from real flowers or grass!!!!  No WONDER she's vomiting!

I moved it to my desk, and will probably just take out the flowers and grass and replace it with something else this year.  I think I have another fall looking arrangement and I doubt she will eat the replacement plants/flowers because they are bigger.

Can you believe it?  Eating fake grass???!!!!

Before I forget, a few have asked why our sudden interest in purchasing new appliances.  Without knowing the facts, I'm sure it looks like we are loaded with money - especially considering I've battled cancer since the end of February and we've had a lot of unusual expenses this year.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Our washer and dryer haven't been acting right for about 12 months.  About 6 months ago, Jesse ran across a used set and bought them cheaply.  They have been stored in our garage "just in case" one or both went out.

In August, our dyer quit drying.  No warning.  It quit.  It's already been repaired once or twice and is about 10 years (or more) old.  We moved the "used dyer" inside, from the garage, when ours quit.  The used one occasionally spits oil onto our clothes, and it sometimes takes two cycles to dry heavier things.  But, it's sure better than no dryer at all.  The washer has been repaired once and is sounding more and more like a bearing is going out again.  Each day the shaking and noise increases.  The washer isn't that old (only 5 years) but we wash over 20 loads a week around here and it isn't a commercial grade appliance.  Most salesmen's eyes pop when they hear how much laundry I do in a week!

The gas range is 7 years old.  The heating element in the lower part of the oven (the "bake" element) went out once before and was repaired ($350 for the part and who knows what for the labor???  . . .  it was under warranty) and the same thing happened this past week.  My broiler element in the oven works and I have the 4 burners left for meals.  Again  . . . better than nothing at all.

Our dishwasher is close to 10 or 12 years old.  It smells funny on the dry cycle (like rotting food or something is burning) and I have NO idea why it still runs, but it probably doesn't have much more time left before quitting.

SO . . .  what are we shopping for???  

We are looking at a washer and dryer set, a dishwasher, and a new range.  A friend works at Best Buy and said he could finance everything for 24 months with no finance charge or interest charge.  In other words, we could take two years to pay for everything at only the cost of the purchases.  PLUS, we can get some manufacturer rebates to lower the purchase price and a purchase discount incentive from Best Buy.   THAT'S why and *how* we are able to purchase so many things right now.

======================

The girls have been helpful today.  The ChorePacks have been wonderful and I'm about to add some new cards (chores) to their daily routines.  Today they did some extra things (small chores) for me.  Luci filled both bathrooms up with toilet paper for the next week.  Rissy wiped the glass on the den's end table and then wiped all of the exterior doors' knobs.  Annamarie emptied the two litter boxes.

I've cleaned out a storage cupboard in the kitchen.  On top of the stove quitting, I found a few weevils in the cupboard where we keep our bread, cookies, and large cookware.  Fortunately, the weevils were in the Corningware and not the bread!  But, I quickly extracted everything from the cupboard until I could wash it down.  Everything's been sitting on the bar all week.  I washed that cupboard (AND put everything back) and then cleaned the top shelf in my dish cupboard.  I found plastic glasses from "before I married Jesse" and realized he and I had never used them.  I also found glasses we had at the beginning of our marriage and don't really use any more.  Those glasses have been removed and I will give them to someone who needs them.

Jesse would have killed me if he knew I climbed to the top shelf to clean out the glasses.  Truth is . . . my friend "Lori K" would kill me, too!!! 

Ah well, the job is done and I didn't fall. 

                                                       Life is still good!
 

Be Blessed  ~

WE'RE **LOOKING**  . . . . !!!!   

I've never been a window shopper.

I have a need.  I see.  I compare (prices etc.).  I buy.

Lowe's told us they don't carry many gas ranges in the store (they had, maybe, three when we were in there).  They told me gas ranges had to be ordered.  

If a warehouse in the area had one, I could have my stove in a week.  

If they had to order it, it could be 5-6 weeks. 

But . . . "WE'RE LOOKING"  

Be Blessed ~

If you feel full in your throat (like you can't swallow) or in your stomach (like you can't eat anymore), here is a new prescription for that ailment.

If you feel hot, take off your sleep cap or wig.

If you are embarrassed because you are bald, don't be.  We don't mind looking at you, that way.

If you will make a grocery list, someone else can do your shopping for you.

If you don't feel like having visitors, just say so.

If you aren't feeling better by the holiday season, don't worry.  We expect nothing from you.

If you can't remember something (or many things), don't worry.  We understand.

If you don't teach everything in homeschool today, there is always tomorrow . . . or, the weekend . . . or, next year . . .

If you don't take a bath, because there is no adult in the house in case you should fall, don't worry.  Someone will eventually be home.

If it's Grandparents Day at JanaLyn's school, and you can't come (because of the risk of being exposed to sick children), we understand.

 ==================

THIS IS MY WORLD, LATELY. 

THIS IS HOW FORGIVING FRIENDS AND FAMILY ARE OF MY "LESS THAN ENERGETIC" SELF.

THIS IS NOT HOW I WISH THINGS TO BE.

I WISH THINGS COULD BE DONE BY *ME*, INSTEAD OF INCONVENIENCING PEOPLE.

==================

Here's a glimpse into an idea I have for being more independent, right now!!!

                         
                  If I owned my own coffee shop, I'd have an employee grind my coffee beans for me
                                      and I wouldn't have to wait for someone to help me.

 
      If I had a nanny, she would know it's her job to see that the children are dressed and fed in the morning.

                         If I had a cook (even though I have no oven, right now!!!!) I wouldn't have to rely on
                                                   CrockPot meals or Rissy to fix dinner.

        
                                     If I had a maid, the dust would never collect on our furniture!

        
                                                  If I believed rain dancing was effective,
                                             I'd dance until the rain broke loose in the skies.
                                           It would only rain at night, and not during the day.
                                                               (Camelot???!!!???)

Yes!  I'd run things differently than they are running, right now . . . IF I had my way. 

Until I can wiggle my nose so that nannies, cooks, housekeepers, etc. quickly appear . . . I will continue to be grateful for my friends and family!

THANK YOU!!!!

Be Blessed  ~